The History of Kisco Lodge Nº 708 F & AM

Our Beginning

Until the year 1870 no Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons had existed nearer than twenty miles from Mount Kisco.

Brewster to the North — Croton Lodge 368;  White Plains to the South — White Plains Lodge 473;  Ridgefield, Conn to the East — Jerusalem 350; Ossining to the West — Westchester Lodge 180; taking in an area of about three hundred and fifty square miles, mostly embraced in Westchester County, N.Y. and with many thriving villages.

The only exception to this statement is that in 1795 a Lodge was instituted in Bedford Village, the old county seat, with its court house and historic landmarks.

This lodge held its communications in the attic of a farm house. Grand Lodge records indicate the petition to form a Lodge in Bedford, dated November 18, 1795 was signed by nineteen men. Some of the names were: Caleb hobby, Abram Hyatt, Ebenezer Lockwood, Jeremiah Quimby, Benoni Platt and Daniel Olmstead. The Lodge was named Morton Nº 73. The Charter was bestowed by the Grand Lodge, December 7, 1798. The last return to the Grand Lodge was made in 1817.

In 1869 the long years of depression and inactivity of the Craft and passed away, deserted Lodges again resounded to the Master’s gavel, the Great Lights again illumined Masonic Sanctuaries long veiled in darkness and gloom; Masonry had come into its own.  A great revival was spreading throughout the State and country.  Master Masons living at or near Mount Kisco called a meeting to see if a Lodge could be formed in Mount Kisco.

Forming of the Lodge

At a meeting of Free and Accepted Masons, held at Mount Kisco, Monday evening, September 13, 1869 there were present Brothers Louis F. Pelton, George W. Dunn, John Archibald, Joseph Strang, John Merritt, Joseph O. Miller, Henry L Birdsall, Andrew J. Birdsall, George Seely, Samuel Burt and Charles S. Ware.

A Charter was granted on June 9, 1871, and the Lodge instituted July 12, 1871, with Lewis F. Pelton, Worshipful Master, George W. Dunn, Senior Warden, and John Archibald, Junior Warden.

The Lodge immediately began a steady and healthful growth that continues to this day. There have been times when attendance lagged of membership declined but these were temporary conditions.

The early Masters served for several years each. Dr. Lewis F. Pelton was the first Master and he, with George W. Dunn,  Henry L Birdsall and C. Elliot Spencer, served from 1870 trough 1889.

When Stephen H. Sarles was Master, the Board of Education invited Kisco Lodge to lay the cornerstone of the new school then under construction. A dispensation was granted and the invitation accepted.  The ceremony as conducted on November 3, 1894, by M\W\ Edward M.L. Ehlers according to the Ancient Rites.

One of our most illustrious Past Masters was Charles Francis Chapman, M.D., Master in 1897 and 1898, Assistant Grand Lector in 1898 and 1899, and District Deputy Garand Master of the 12th Masonic District in 1900-1901.

In the early 1930’s he was still delivering the Historical Lecture in his excellent and inimitable manner.

Our Growth

In 1905 the Lodge moved from its first home on the upper floor of a building belonging to Brother W.I. Halstead to their new quarters in a building constructed by Brother Asa W. Young.  It had long been recognized that more space was needed and Brother Young was persuaded to arrange the upper floor of  his building, according to plans furnished, for Lodge purposes.

Kisco Lodge was again honored in 1915 with the appointment of Right Worshipful William B. Adams as district Deputy Grand Master of the 12th Masonic District.  His homecoming on April 11, 1916, saw the largest Masonic gathering in the history of Kisco Lodge.  It was held in the Civic Hall in Mount Kisco with Most Worshipful George Freifeld and his stall of Grand Officers in the East.

Building our Temple

The Lodge attained its greatest growth in the early 20’s. Demands for a Masonic Temple had begun to be heard, and in 1922 ground was purchased  on Carpenter Avenue in Mount Kisco from the American Legion.

In 1924 a new Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star was instituted in Mount Kisco, With Sister May Mulley as its first Worthy Matron.

In 1930 the Mount Kisco Masonic Guild was formed and in 1931 the Trustees of the Guild were authorized to formulate plans for a new Masonic Temple.  A contract was let on July 30,1931, ground was broke on August 7,  and the cornerstone was laid on Saturday, September 26, 1931.

A video that captures the planning, groundbreaking, construction, and dedication of the Temple can be viewed here.

Our Charities

As a district, out principal charities are the Children’s Association and the Brotherhood Fund.  The Children’s Association for many years has sent underprivileged children to summer camp,  has provided Christmas parties at Grasslands Hospital,  has contributed medical and rehabilitation equipment, and has provided scholarships for many who would otherwise not be able to continue their education.

The Brotherhood fund helps support the Medical Research Foundation, which did so much in the control of rheumatic fever and which is now working on diseases of the aging, working on heart disease and Defibrillators.

The Masonic Medical Research Laboratory (MMRL) is an internationally recognized biomedical research institute. For its size, there are few institutes worldwide whose cutting edge research is as productive and influential in the field of experimental cardiology. In recent years, the MMRL has become an international center for genetic screening of cardiac arrhythmia diseases, especially those contributing to sudden death syndromes, including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The MMRL is blazing new trails in the development of safe and effective drugs for atrial fibrillation, addressing one of the greatest unmet medical needs facing our society. With its recent inauguration of a Stem Cell Center, the MMRL is making rapid progress in the creation of human models of disease focused on development of innovative therapies and cures.